2017 opioid related deaths in DuPage up by over 55%

The DuPage County Coroner’s Office has
completed all suspected opioid related deaths from 2017.

“The numbers are startling and show that we
continue to have a serious problem of addiction and death related to legal and
illegal opioids, writes Richard A. Jorgensen, MD, FACSCoroner, DuPage
County.

“The trend towards the mixture of the opioid
fentanyl into the heroin and the emergence of fentanyl analogues in the
Chicagoland area continues as a serious problem. These fentanyl analogues are
very strong and we have identified another death due to carfentanyl which is
10,000 stronger than morphine. These numbers do not reflect the lives who have
been saved by or Police, Fire and medical personnel using the opioid antidote
naloxone. If this life saving drug had not been widely used the number of
deaths would be much higher.”

Jorgensen adds, “These numbers reveal that our
work is not done in the quest to eradicate this epidemic. We must continue to
bring education to our citizens about this problem to prevent the use of
opioids, treat those who are addicted and eradicate the supply of illegal
drugs.”